Trump vs Bannon: What Happened?

Anyone who remembers the run-up to Donald Trump’s surprising election as US President in 2016 will also likely remember some of the people that supported him along the way – among them were Breitbart’s Steve Bannon, a controversial right-wing media figurehead who would eventually find himself in the bosom of the White House as Chief Strategist – a role which saw the broadcaster allied close enough to Trump for him to almost be considered The Donald’s Number Two. However, Bannon’s role in the Oval Office came to an abrupt end in August 2017, as it seemed he would be the latest in a line of controversial names to be dropped from the top team. The move was a surprising one, yet not as surprising as the recent fall-out between Trump and his former advisor seems to be.

Bannon has fallen foul of Trump Jr both on Twitter and in the mainstream press, as it has emerged that the White House has hit the Breitbart boss with a cease-and-desist order following news that he had colluded in providing certain information to journalist Michael Wolff for his book and expose on the Trump Presidency, Fire and Fury. Trump’s lawyers are alleging that Bannon has outright broken a non-disclosure agreement and that he has disclosed confidential details that are being deemed as ‘disparaging and in some cases outright defamatory’. Despite such action, however, Bannon has continued to praise the President, calling him a ‘great man’ via his radio show. “I support him day in and day out,” asserts Bannon – though if Trump Jr’s recent tweeting is anything to go by, the bromance certainly seems to be over.

“Steve had the honor of working in the White House & serving the country,” tweets Trump Jr, defending his father after certain claims Bannon is alleged to have made were regarding his own role in the election campaign trail. “Unfortunately, he squandered that privilege & turned that opportunity into a nightmare of backstabbing, harassing, leaking, lying & undermining the President. Steve is not a strategist, he is an opportunist (sic)”. Strong words indeed – and if 2018 so far is anything to go by, it seems this will be another year of big news from the big man in the White House – let’s wait and see what this leads to. With the Russian collusion allegations still reverberating, this is going to be an interesting second year in office for The Donald.